Beef Enchilada Casserole

Easy to make flavorful Beef Enchilada Casserole is family friendly and perfect for weeknight dinners. Filled with burger, black beans, enchilada sauce and cheese.

Serve with a quick salad with a lemon vinaigrette, cilantro lime rice and some crunchy baked tortilla chips and you have a dinner that's sure to please!

Easy to make enchiladas

I love enchiladas and often order them when we go out to a Mexican restaurant. I also love to make them at home and my Chicken Enchiladas are a family favorite.

However, sometimes I want an easy dinner casserole that I can make ahead of time and then throw in the oven at dinner time. This easy beef enchilada casserole is perfect and delicious.

I've made this with ground burger. You can use ground beef, ground turkey or ground venison or elk. Since my freezer is full of wild game meat, that is usually my go-to choice.

Key ingredients

• Tortillas - I use white corn tortillas, but yellow corn or small flour tortillas can also be uses
• Ground burger - beef, turkey, or wild game
• Enchilada sauce - homemade or store bought. Choose mild, medium or hot sauce.
• Cheese - I use two kinds, cheddar and monterey jack
• Black beans - home canned or store bought
• Toppings - chopped tomatoes, green onions, avocado

Step by step directions

• Brown burger in a saucepan over medium heat
• When burger is mostly cooked, add onions. Continue cooking until burger is cooked through and onions are soft
• Add garlic and stir for 30 seconds
• Stir in black beans and enchilada sauce. Cook for 1-2 minutes until heated through.

• Remove from heat and stir in cilantro

• Spray a 9x13" casserole dish with a nonstick spray
• Place ½ cup of enchilada sauce into bottom of dish
• Add a layer of tortillas
• Top with half the burger mixture

• Sprinkle on cheese
• Add enchilada sauce

• Repeat layers. After final sauce has been added, sprinkle with additional cheese.
• Bake in preheated 350° oven for 30-35 minutes until bubbly around the edges and heated through
• Rest for 5 minutes then top with toppings and serve

Recipe tips

• I slice the tortillas in half so they fit better in the pan. It's okay to overlap tortillas
• Bake uncovered until casserole is bubbly around the edges and heated through
• Allow casserole to rest for at least 5 minutes before serving
• Serve extra garnishes so people can add as much as they like
• Serve with sour cream and guacamole, if desired

To make ahead of time

• To make ahead of time, follow directions for assembling casserole
• Allow burger mixture to cool before adding to casserole
• After casserole is assembled, cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days
• To use, remove from refrigerator and remove covering
• Bake in 350°F oven for 45-50 minutes, until heated through

To freeze unbaked casserole

• To make ahead of time, follow directions for assembling casserole
• Allow burger mixture to cool before adding to casserole
• After casserole is assembled, cover with plastic wrap and then with foil
• Label and date casserole and place in freezer for up to 3 months
• To use, remove from freezer and allow casserole to partially thaw
• Bake in 350°F oven for 50-60 minutes, until heated through. Baking time may vary, depending on how frozen the casserole is.

Variations

• Add frozen corn to the burger mixture
• For a little more spice, add a can of roasted peppers. Drain and chop before adding to burger mixture.
• Serve with corn chips, for a bit of crunch

More delicious dinner recipes

• Chicken Broccoli and Rice
• Chicken Fajita Casserole
• Baked BBQ Chicken Legs
• Chicken Pot Pie
• Mexican Chicken and Rice

More delicious enchilada recipes

• Green Chili Enchiladas
• Enchilada Casserole
• Quinoa Enchilada Bake
• Enchilada Soup
• Homemade Enchilada Sauce

If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @beyondthechickencoop

Be sure to check out all my main dish recipes!